Give dying Illinoisans the option to go on their terms

A terminally ill patient previously profiled in the Sun-Times calls on Illinois lawmakers to approve “medical aid in dying” legislation. Also, a Cubs fan who was a toddler when the North Siders last won the World Series thinks this might be his team’s year.

A woman works in the kitchen. She appears to be pouring a bottle into a bowl. Two dogs are next to her. — With their two dogs watching, Deb Robertson, 65, who has been diagnosed with terminal neuroendocrine carcinoma, cooks dinner for her wife in their Lombard home in 2024.

If I did not have to worry about how I’m going to die, I could focus on the days I have left to live — and they are not many.

In January 2022, I learned I have a fast-growing, rare, terminal form of cancer called high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Should Illinois become 11th state to adopt ‘right-to-die’ legislation?

Five rounds of chemotherapy left me feeling like hell. Last May, my fourth line of treatment stopped working. In June, I found a trial that specialized in treating my type of cancer. For months, I endured another onslaught of side effects.

Now, three years after my diagnosis, doctors say that the cancer might have spread to my brain. I continue to do all I can, but the bottom line is, I am dying. There is no stopping my cancer.

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I don’t want to die. I’m living as active a life as I can, cherishing the time I have with my wife and family. But when my time comes, I want the option to take prescription medication so that I can die peacefully, in my own bed, with my loved ones by my side, comforting me.

Unfortunately, this option is not available in Illinois. So I am spending my last days advocating with the Illinois End-of-Life Options Coalition to urge our lawmakers to pass the End of Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act — Senate Bill 9.

I have lived in Illinois for my whole life. All my family live in Illinois. I have thought about moving to Oregon, the first state to implement a medical aid-in-dying law in 1997, but there is no way I would actually do it, even if I had the energy, resources and time to find a new place to live and new physicians willing to participate in the law. I want to be with my family and friends for however many days I have left.

I did not choose to have this terminal cancer, but I believe I should have a say in how I spend my last days. Members of the Legislature, I urge you to listen to my story and put yourselves in my shoes. I beg you to give me a chance to die peacefully by passing this bill — now.

Deb Robertson, Lombard

Maybe this year?

The Cubs have started what could be a historic season, showing comparisons to their World Series run in 1908. Opening the season 35-21 the Cubbies have an almost identical win-loss margin to the 1908 team that clinched the World Series title. But there is one difference. The 1908 Cubs tied a game on June 4 — 1-1 against the Boston Doves, a feat not yet seen by our current Cubs. With young stars showing potential and seasoned veterans who have been loyal to the franchise, 2025 very well could be the year of the Cubs. Only time will tell.

Parker Santeler, 12, Schaumburg